The Difference Amongst Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy


Physical therapy and occupational therapy form an important pillar of complementary medicine that improves functional, muscular and structural stability in men and women having said that, it is noteworthy that occupational therapy and physical therapy are totally distinct and distinct tools of rehabilitation.

Physical therapy bargains with improving the muscular and structural help of the tissues and tendons immediately after an acute or chronic insult. The aim of physical therapy is to restore activity with no affecting the standard healing process.

Occupational therapy offers with helping folks in adapting to their injuries in order to maximize productivity and functional independence. yoursite.com in optimizing the mobility with the enable of equipments and devices after an injury that may perhaps lead to permanent disability. Occupational therapists also play a preventive function by guiding standard people to perform with their bodies and not against their bodies that is a leading result in of aggravated put on and tear tissue damage and injuries.

Physical therapists use their vast expertise of the human musculoskeletal system, anatomy and physiological functioning of muscles, joints and ligaments in order to restore mobility and full variety of joint activity. At the very same time, physical therapy workouts and maneuvers also decrease the risk of joint destruction and muscle injuries.


Occupational therapists support in enhancing coping abilities in people immediately after injuries. Occupational therapists work with family, relatives, good friends and colleagues in order to make the transition much less painful and more helpful for the recovering patient.

Physical therapist works soon after the injury in the initial recovery course soon after major injury whilst the solutions of occupational therapists are usually needed in the rehabilitation course when the patient has totally recovered from the initial injury.

Provision of physical therapy could increase the scenario and mobility of people. Physical therapists execute interventive therapies like massage, acupuncture, exercises and manual therapies to increase the functioning of the physique.

Occupational therapy is performed when the patient has totally recovered and the sole objective is to improve the good quality of life by not letting the disability to impact the life of men and women. Occupational therapists modify the surroundings and the way of life mainly rather of devising any remedy modalities.

Physical therapists mainly operate with sports teams and athletes (considering that athletes are most vulnerable to musculoskeletal injuries and demand the assistance of physical therapists most). In addition, physical therapists also operate with surgical units, burn centers, nursing properties and trauma centers in order to attend to sufferers who are suffering from moderate to extreme injuries involving joints (limb joints or spinal joints).

Occupational therapists are typically employed in rehabilitation centers to manage the individuals who have suffered permanent harm and disabilities. Occupational therapists train sufferers to use specific devices and equipment like hearing aids, walking aids, visual aids and other gear that lower the dependence on caregivers thereby reduces economic and psychological dependence. Just about 48% of all occupational therapists function in the offices of speech and physical therapists (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Physical therapists are mainly involved in the management of musculoskeletal stability when occupational therapists typically cover all aspects of a person’s life like social (by improving physical independence), psychological (by counseling), financial (by decreasing the caregiver dependence) and qualified (by modification of perform-environment or ability-set training).

Physical therapists call for a Bachelors or Masters in Physical therapy followed by training in a physical therapy setting. Similarly in order to come to be an occupational therapist, folks need a Bachelors or Masters in Occupational therapy even so no instruction or encounter is usually necessary in order to start out the practice (according to the reports of Bureau of Labor Statistics).

At an average, there are virtually twice as considerably job openings for physical therapists than occupational therapists (198,600 job openings in 2010 for physical therapists as compared to 108,800 job openings for occupational therapists).

To sum up, occupational therapy and physical therapy both constitute vital tools of rehabilitation and recovery right after moderate physical, musculoskeletal, vascular or neurological injuries. Despite the fact that the principal functioning and aims of the therapies overlap considerably, it can be safely stated that in particular circumstances, people have to have both physical therapy and occupational therapy to get maximal positive aspects.

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